Katy Cabot Correspondence with Carl & Emma Jung, Toni Wolff and others

Dear Katy,                                22 January 1937

I am so sorry that you are ill again and will try to write an analytical letter to give you a little comfort.

Though I don’t think you need much explanation, as you do see everything well for yourself and analysed your dreams very clearly.

I am sorry you got punished for having been too nice to the Fraulein by getting the flu in having to enter her room.

But on the other hand, to be a hermit for a while is what you desired and probably needed too after all these ‘revelations.’

And too after a dose of St. Moritz life, which must have been a bit too much, coming right after your very quiet life in Zurich.

Of course you are right too when you say it is better to go out once in a while so people can’t say you don’t care a damn when de T. is not with you.

But now the flu has solved that problem for the time being.

But on the other hand, you can’t act the very jolly person who cares nothing whether de T. is with you or not when his absence makes all the difference.

Such are the complications of life and real feeling – that is probably the reason why you tried to keep the feelings at bay and made reason the basis of your attitude – as of course lots of people do.

Feelings mean more complication, but also more fullness and depths – I mean of course your own individual feelings, and not those social ones where one is just “nice” to people ….

1. in your dream must represent your former society person side, which has grown apart from you.

Her having to have a baby might mean that the social side is coming up in a new way – which it has done already, for your insight into people makes you relate to them again, only in a very new and individual way.

That would refer to the mandalas in the room also.

You must not expect “loving” feelings to people to come through again.

Your insight into their unconscious would prevent that.

But you have a much fuller realization of their whole personality as you have into your own – when you can see the good and the bad in them ….

I think, I thought you were a sensation type because you repressed your intuition so much, as it made you vulnerable.

And also because up to now you really had the attitude of a French woman with very much common sense and being almost too reasonable. (The money situation, your feelings for de T. and the social side.)

I only hope D.’s visit will not interfere with your coming down to Zurich to the carnival party, it would be an awful pity.

As for D. coming too I am rather uncertain whether she would fit into our group, you know she is so easily shocked, and of course at such a party no one can be expected to treat her specially, she would have to be just like any other person. . ..

The dream of B. shows you a girl who hasn’t given a damn about her birth and went all along on the individual way – probably rather a bit too much.

But in association with her you discover these men’s pajamas which you try first to give away, but finally remain with you, for your own use if made smaller.

That means a more masculine attitude, firmer and more self-dependent, as a man has to have in regard to the world …. I think you are right about C. in the dream and all it involves.

Though I wonder if in reality you would decline a party which is given by C.

That is to say, if you analyse the dream by taking C. subjectively your analysis is perfectly correct.

But as C. is a person whom you meet in reality and who belongs very much to the Analytical group I think you have to take her also objectively, and then the meaning might be a bit different.

I should say that then one is led to different conclusions, the sum of which would be that you ought to get somehow in contact with C. socially, not analytically.

The party would be a chance to do that, for instance.

By the way I don’t think C. likes parties and gatherings more than mildly; in a way she does, but in a very introverted sensation type way.

She enjoys herself being in a group, but does not make much effort to do something about people.

This attitude of an introverted sensation type might be quite useful to study.

And don’t forget too that as C. she is always somebody – perhaps too much only the wife of her husband, she likes to be taken on her own values, but on the other hand, it is of course much simpler and easier than it is for a person who like you has no husband along upon whom one can rely and who does create the social situation.

This may be a difficulty you undervalue, probably because in the USA it is the women who make the social situation.

But in Europe it is very much the men.

A married woman is always getting her persona by the social position and profession of her husband.

I do hope you can come to the party, you just belong to it and we would feel decidedly that something were missing if you were still not well to come down.

But I do hope rather that D. is not coming, I don’t think she could get into our atmosphere.

Do take care of yourself and enjoy the days in bed in your room.

I am quite well and we don’t have much flu here.

I am trying to get my dancing a bit refreshed – took a course before Christmas. E. really encouraged me. F. and G. were also coming.

Our teacher is going to St. Moritz next week to lead the international dancing competition she had organized.

Love and good wishes,

Toni ~Toni Wolff, Jung My Mother and I, Pages 142-144

Toni Wolff’s Letter to Katy Cabot  June 25th 1937

I think it was very fine and courageous of you to have made this decision to [to give up Eranos].

I realise how difficult it must have been for you.

But I am absolutely convinced that it was the only course to take not to come, as your health matters far more than anything else.

And you can be sure to make a great moral and spiritual gain by this most wise decision.

One always gets something in another direction after having made a sensible sacrifice.

You will somehow get far more than you would have got at the lectures.

I am sure that you are progressing psychologically, this very decision is proof of it.

And in the acceptance also of your own nature as you really are, the more you will feel that your nature and character are really a nice thing, and nothing at all to be despised.

To despise one’s self simply shows that one has not yet made friends with one’s self.

And I am glad too that you have accepted your dependence upon de T.

If you think this over carefully you will have to admit that he is a man of sense and judgement and good taste.

So, if he loves you as he does, you simply cannot be such an utterly impossible person.

Have you never thought of this?

I do hope that de T.’s divorce will come off in the near future. I think you deserve a more quiet and settled sort of life.

And, to tell you the truth, I really do believe that when you have reached a certain inner attitude of complete acceptance of yourself, this can work miracles and that outer things begin to happen, such as for instance a way opening to the divorce. ~Toni Wolff, Jung My Mother and I, Pages 155-156

Carl Jung to Katy Cabot September 16, 1935

Mrs. C. Cabot                                      September 16, 1935
c/o Guaranty Trust Co.
4 Place de la Concorde
Paris
Dear Mrs. Cabot,
Thank you for your kind letter. I take notice of your intention to come back at the beginning of November, and I hope I will be able to do something for you, which, however, is a mere hope for the time being.

Well, I don’t wonder that you had some intimations from your uncanny friend. One could suspect as much.

Yes, the situation of the world is terrible. I only hope that the fire can be isolated.

My best wishes,

Cordially yours,

C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Jung My Mother and I, Page 105

Carl Jung to Katy Cabot: February 8, 1937

Dear Mrs. Cabot,                                     February 8, 1937

Thank you very much for your nice letter. I’m indeed sorry to hear that you suffer again from flu. Just lately I had a touch of it too.

It is too bad that you can’t come to the carnival evening. I remember delightful sights of former days.

Hoping that you are not too long chained to your bed.

I remain yours cordially,

C.G. Jung

P.S. There is no objection against the “Onkel.”

Toni Wolff to Katy Cabot November 3, 1939

Dearest Katy,                    November 3, 1939

In anticipation of this evening I am sending ahead all my warmest wishes for the day and for the special date.

In a way 45 is just a number like any other, and yet it feels a bit more important and probably is psychologically.

The “second half” of life is nearer and more imperative.

Perhaps the little book carries a meaning for you – provided you don’t possess it already.

I am looking forward to the evening and think the number 4 and the combination of persons just the right one for the occasion.

I forgot to say that I am sure it’s safe if you order dinner for 7 .30 p.m. And as far as I know, Dr. C. does not like aperitifs.

With much love,

Affectionately,

Toni

Toni Wolff to Katy Cabot April 10, 1940

My dear Katy,                                    April 10

Many thanks for your messages. [She then mentions her mother’s illness and continues:] I am awfully sorry you can’t come to the Ascona hotel.

It is rather small (36 rooms), and all the lecturers are staying there. I did tell Mrs. N. to reserve rooms there – I don’t know how many she needs – and one relief to you may be that G. will be there – of course!

That’s one reason why I should have liked you there – so that B. would vanish in the background.

Well, it’s fated otherwise. The [Hotel] Tamaro, Dr. C. wrote after seeing it, it is very nice ….

Maybe Mrs. L. did not yet write you. She was awfully busy with the wedding and all [her eldest son Markus was married in 1940], and having to go to Basel.

I think your letter to her is very good and covers up the fact that you were ill – at least it would to most people . … I do hope, Katy, that you consider 2 weeks in the Tessin.

I am sure a change of air would be good. And Janey could begin her [art] school a bit later.

The weather seems fine – only occasionally a bit of wind.

I do hope you feel better every day.

Love and good wishes,

Toni ~Toni Wolff, Jung My Mother and I, Page 270

Katy Cabot to Carl Jung April 28, 1940

Dear Onkel,                                              April 28,

As I was unfortunate to miss my last appointment, due to the Grippe [cold], I am writing to ask if I could have it now, as soon as
you begin to see people again [after Easter]?

I am leaving Zurich for a change of air on May 10th, and hope very much that you will see me once, before I go on this holiday to Italy.

I enclose this list of a certain number of works concerning St. Ignatius of Loyola, which came from a Jesuit source.

These [Easter] holidays were spent by m.e, getting rid of a second flu, which I got after m.y first “Cold”: it’s been most depressing, and seeing you would be a great help.

Affectionately yours,

Catharine Cabot ~Carl Jung, Jung My Mother and I, Page 270-271

Carl Jung to Katy Cabot: July 17, 1930

My dear Mrs. Cabot,               17 July 1930

Thank you very much for your kindness!

We shall spend one or two nights with Frau Froebe.

I hope to be able to see you and your family while we are in Ascona.

This year it will be a short Eranosmeeting.

Thank you also for your picture postcard of Hospenthal.

Please give my love to Janey, and my best regards to Major de Trafford!

Yours cordially,

C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Jung My Mother and I, Page 290

Carl Jung to Katy Cabot October 16, 1940

Kusnacht- Zurich
Seestrasse 228
October 16th, 1940

My dear Mrs. Cabot,

Please let me know whether you agree that my son-in-law, Mr. Walther Niehus, take over the job of buying your house.

I had a talk with him, and he had a talk with your lawyer and, being an architect, he agrees that he could do it much more easily than, for
instance, myself, who could get into trouble with taxes.

The business could be settled at once, if you let me or your lawyer know that you agree with the choice of my son-in-law.

As an homme de confiance, he is O .K.

Sincerely yours,

C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Jung My Mother and I, Page 291

Carl Jung to Katy Cabot November 16, 1940

Kusnacht-Zurich
Seestrasse 228
16 X 1940
My dear Mrs. Cabot,

It is chiefly on account of my somewhat one-sided concentration upon my work, that I altogether forgot to tell you how sorry I was when I heard of the death of your father.

I thought of it several times, and then something happened and it took my thoughts elsewhere. It is therefore with many apologies that I send you my belated expression of sympathy.

The death of one’s parent is a painful experience under all circumstances, because it is a cruel amputation of one of the roots of our human existence.

It means an increased isolation and an uneasy feeling of being left behind.

In order to lose no time, I have sent my answer to your request as quickly as possible.

I think the arrangement I proposed to you is satisfactory in every way.

My best greetings to your daughter!

Hoping for a speedy end of the War,

I remain yours,

Cordially,

C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Jung My Mother and I, Pages 291-292